Self-Management
Self-management involves an individual monitoring, recording, and reinforcing their own behavior. In their meta-analysis, Carr (2016) noted that there is evidence to list self-management as an emerging intervention for challenging behavior exhibited by individuals with ASD. Find examples from literature here.
Intervention type
Self-management is often implemented as a multi-component intervention that includes the aforementioned components of monitoring, recording, and accessing earned reinforcers.
Behavioral mechanism(s)
Self-management is effective likely due to reinforcement encountered during its implementation. It is important to note that reinforcement can derive from multiple sources, including the programmed reinforcer for achieving the performance criterion, feedback provided from the recording of behavior change in a therapeutic direction, or access to other unprogrammed environmental reinforcers as challenging behavior diminishes.
Severity and behavioral function considerations
Given its emerging nature as an intervention for challenging behavior, clear information does not exist regarding the severity of challenging behavior for which this intervention would be appropriate. However, based on the self-directed nature of the program, it is likely most appropriate for mild to moderate challenging behavior. The bulk of the existing published studies related to self-management for challenging behavior applied the intervention to behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement.
Caregiver, context and practical considerations
